The promise of an empty tomb.

This has certainly been a different Lenten season for me. I have spent between forty and sixty hours each week at the hospital. In that time, I have been in education and doing clinical work as a chaplain. I have witnessed life, hurt and even death first hand, I have been asked to provide support and words of encouragement to the hurting and the dying, and prayer for those who are in the most difficult times of their lives, prayers for comfort, for healing, for reconciliation.  
In the midst of all of this, we are in Lent, a time, for me, of personal reflection and a heightened awareness of God in my life. In my reflection and through my experiences here I have come to see God more clearly in all phases of our lives.
In all our brokenness and pain is the resurrection story, Jesus on a cross and an empty tomb, an empty tomb which proves the promises of God's love for each of us.
As we enter Easter, my wish for you is you will rejoice with me in the emptiness of the tomb and the fullness of our life in Christ.

Clinical work has begun

I started the clinical part of my education this past week. The course requires me to do about 30 hours of clinical work a week in addition to two days of education. I have had the opportunity to visit a number of patients and families. Clinical care ministry is stretching me to utilize some gifts I have not used in the past. 

Hospital chaplaincy is important and meaningful work and I am thankful for the opportunity to learn in this environment. It will be a real benefit for me as I move towards parish ministry and ordination. It is also exhausting work and I am thankful for a day off, of course now I have reading to do and a paper tor write. Thanks to you all for your continued support and prayers.

My CPE has begun

Well, I arrived in Illinois last Wednesday, after a one day delay due to the blizzard in Western Iowa.  I have settled into the house which has been provided.  On Monday, I began my orientation and next week I will begin my clinical work in the hospital.

In the meantime, I have two papers to finish for the classes I attended at PLTS on Berkeley two weeks ago.  Getting these done before Monday is my goal, since my schedule gets very full starting next week.

Thank you all for your prayers and notes of encouragement.  I would love to hear from you, either through my Facebook page, or if you would like to mail a note, you can contact Susie for my mailing address. Peace be with you, and on this Ash Wednesday may, may you be blessed in this time of reflection and preparation for renewal.

And away we go...

Next Sunday, I leave for a week of classes in Berkeley, and a whirlwind weekend when I return the following Saturday with enough time to do laundry, hopefully make it to church, and hit the road to drive to Illinois, where I will begin my twelve week Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).

I am very excited for these next steps in my journey to ordination.  I have been studying for the classes I will be taking in Berkeley since October and am anxious to have the classroom experience in discussing the topics of Into to New Testament and Ministry in Context.  The reading has been very interesting and insightful, and the papers I have written have caused me to gain new understandings, especially as the church exists in our current world.

While, I am not looking forward to leaving Susie or the drive to Illinois, I am very anxious to begin my CPE.  For this, I will be spending my time at Advocate BroMenn in Normal, Illinois.  My experience will include visiting and providing spiritual care to patients and their families along with some evaluative course work. In addition, I will have my normal class work for my seminary classes, so I should have plenty to keep me busy.

During this time, please keep Susie and I in your prayers. the separation won't be easy, but we both understand the importance of my completing this part of my education.  We're hoping she will be able to come to Illinois mid-way through my time there.

My plan is to post here regularly about my experiences in the CPE, so check back often.  God's blessings to each of you.